A round-up of other bike stories in brief...
BMW unveils new superbike
BMW Motorrad is expanding its lineup to include
proper sportbikes. BMW has also confirmed its intention to enter
the World Superbike Championship last week. The road-going version
of the WSBK machine will be called the BMW S1000RR and will be
powered by an in-line four-cylinder, 1000cc engine. BMW has said
the S1000RR will use conventional forks, have a twin-spar frame,
chain drive and traction control. Expect 190hp and a weight of less
than 200kg when it goes on sale in early 2010.
Schumacher falls a third time
It's been a bad biking month for Michael Schumacher.
While competing in an amateur race at the Bresse racetrack in
France, he fell after electing to start from the back because he
enjoys overtaking so much - despite having the fasest qualifying
time. Last week the 39-year old crashed an IDM Honda Fireblade at
the Lausitzring during testing for the German Superbike series. He
is unfazed, saying: "It's clear that motorcycling isn't without its
risks but I do what I can to minimise them."
Is VW eyeballing Ducati?
Comments by VW boss Ferdinand Piech have started
speculation that VW could be planning to get into the bike
business. According to a Reuters report, the 71-year old is quoted
as saying that he would still like a small, valuable motorcycle
manufacturer and laments having missed the opportunity to buy
Ducati when it was floundering more than 20 years ago.